Michigamme Highlands CBC Report

The third annual Michigamme Highlands Christmas Bird Count was held last Sunday, 12/28. Eleven participants counted a total of 977 birds from 25
species. This ties our species count from the first year and is up from 21 recorded in 2013. We added two new species this time, Barred Owl and Pine Siskin, which brings us to a cumulative total of 34 species over the three years.

Black-backed Woodpecker, Gray Jay, and Boreal Chickadee were all found once
again, but in their lowest numbers yet, with one, two, and three individuals
of each species recorded, respectively. This compares to high counts of 5
BBWO, 17 GRAJ, and 20 BOCH, all recorded in 2012. Downy and Hairy
Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, and Black-capped Chickadee all also had
their lowest totals yet, though with a sample size of only three years and
considerably more party-hours in 2012 compared to 2013 and 2014, combined
with the count being held 11 days later this year, it’s impossible to even
begin to judge whether these low counts represent anything occurring with
the actual populations.

Interestingly, though they were new for the count, Pine Siskins made up just
under half of all individuals tallied (466 of 977). As with last year no
crossbills were found, but Pine Grosbeak, Purple Finch, Common Redpoll,
American Goldfinch, and Evening Grosbeak were all recorded.